Ki

I don't think people have an issue with playmakers, Ki just isn't a very good playmaker. The comparison to Kranjcar just doesn't really hold water because Kranjcar has alot more to his game than Ki does. Kranjcar can sit deep but he is also comfortable in more advanced positions which Ki is not. Personally I would like to see Ki dropped and see either McGeouch or Ibrahim played as an advanced attacking mid.

 

We lost the Cup Final against Kilmarnock and the Semi Final against Hearts with Ki in the midfield. We have lost or drawn a stack of Cup. League or European games with Ki in the midfield over the last few years. Anyone see a familiar pattern here ? Even if Ki is introduced as a substitute in any game we immediately struggle because he does not pull his weight or loses his concentration when on the ball.Kemosabe is right, I think Ki would struggle in any league or division, because he lacks the necessary attributes and mindset to be the complete midfielder.

Put Ki in the middle and the other central midfielder struggles badly to support him no matter who it is Brown, Ledley, Wanyama, or Kayal, as Ki can't tackle,is slow, lazy and dozen't track back, and he can't even do the role he is meant to do properly playmaking, therefore. Ki is incompatible with our midfield, and seeing he is not versatile, he can't be played anywhere else in the team, so someone please tell Lennon, why do you keep picking your blue eyed boy Ki in the midfield, despite him letting you down over and over again ?

 

Kranjčar never sits deep. For Croatia, he is a wide midfielder cutting inside. But his playing style is smilar to Ki. Creativity, technique, hard shots, possession football- but weak defensive contribution, and neither regularly bursts forward(although Ki is fitter and can do it). I believe Kranjčar would be crucified on this forum in a few months after his arrival. People don't like playmakers. Period.

 

Kranjcar wouldn't be crucified because he has versatillity, he can play wide, centrally, or behind the striker whereas Ki can only play in a deep lying role. People are fine with playmakers but Ki just isn't good enough to build a team around, if we had Kranjcar imo we would build our team around him.

 

I appreciate your positive comments about Kranjčar. But, I assure you, he and Ki are pretty smiliar in most aspects. Kranjčar gets criticised for much of the same things as Ki does. And I think the critics are harsh on both of them.

 

Naka and lubo are both revered by our fan base, I would call both of them playmakers. Ki is simply not up to that standard and for being labeled a "playmaker" rarely brings anything creative or exciting to the team.

 

Ki can play all kinds of passes, and shields the ball very well...he helps reaffirm our hold on games when it is slippery, and offers a good long-range threat. Not to mention set pieces. Kranjčar is very, very similar. Both function as the attacking masterminds, and approach the box mostly to get a long-shot attempt.

 

Could you please tell me when Ki last scored a goal for Celtic, had an assist for Celtic, or even got a free kick on target recently.

You are having a laugh if you can compare the brilliant Kranjčar with Ki .

 

<table border="0" cellpadding="5" width="100%"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align:center;width:50%;">Kilmarnock

</td><td style="text-align:center;width:50%;">Celtic

</td></tr> <tr><td style="text-align:center;">1

</td><td style="text-align:center;">0

</td></tr> <tr><td style="text-align:left;" colspan="2">Team Lineup

</td></tr> <tr><td style="text-align:center;"><table border="0" width="100%"><tbody><tr><td style="width:70px;">
</td><td style="text-align:left;">01 Bell
03 Hay
04 Fowler
06 Nelson
19 Gordon
88 Sissoko
08 Kelly
09 Buijs
11 Harkins
20 Shiels
14 Heffernan
</td></tr></tbody></table></td><td style="text-align:center;"><table border="0" width="100%"><tbody><tr><td style="width:70px;">
</td><td style="text-align:left;">Forster, Fraser
Matthews, Adam
Rogne, Thomas
Wilson, Kelvin
Mulgrew, Charlie
Forrest, James
Brown, Scott
Wanyama, Victor
Ledley, Joe
Hooper, Gary
Stokes, Anthony
</td></tr></tbody></table></td></tr></tbody></table>I think you will find Ki did not start against Killmarnock.
But why let this get in the way of blaming him for the loss.

 

I see at least attempts of through balls or long-range ones, every game. Often it's successful, but others screw things up. Every so often, he forces GK-s into desperate saves. And yes, 2 misses of a smilar chance are bad, but he went there and got himself into the chance.

Not trying to compare with Lubo. * forbid. With Ki, it's a matter of confidence. And I can imagine what's his confidence like, if he reads these forums...

 

11 goals in 60 starts would be a better return than any of our present CMs.

http://www.celticfc.net/player.php?id=31

 

Has Ki ever scored a set piece for Celtic? His reputation for freekick taking comes from him hyping himself up when he first got here, not anything he has done during his time here. He also rarely beats the first man when he takes corners.

 

Not for me just has n't got it time to cash in .Also surely now we've sold enough merchandice in south korea

 

I know Kranjčar's past while he was in Croatia. Do not think I don't have a clue when I'm comparing him to Ki. I think a case of overrating the EPL is present here. Kranjčar is good, but Ki isn't terribly worse.

 

I believe Ledley has a better return with 15 goals in his celtic career in a similar number of appearances.

 

Ki came on in the 56th minute, almost half the game. We were in the ascendancy until Ki came on,it was 0-0 until he came on.Guess what happened later ?

 

He has had some fantastic performances for us, to write him off and sell him before we realise his potential (or not even) could be a big mistake. I think he has got a lot more to offer us.

There were some people on this site calling for Forrest to be punted last season, I think we should be a little patient with Ki.

 

Ki's corners are very good. Free kicks...here's the thing. Stokes will either screw it up(most of the attempts), or score. Ki usually hits them on target, but GK's save almost always. We get a corner, or something. And also, Ki never demands to take a FK- at least I haven't seen him do that. A bit shy with regards to that. He should be taking more of them.